Williamson County sheriff reports 2 overdose deaths this week, 17 fentanyl deaths this year

The Williamson County sheriff's office is investigating a second suspected drug overdose death this week, officials said on Thursday. The sheriff's organized crime unit responded to a suspected overdose death on Wednesday at a house in the 16000 block of Terrace Drive in Austin, a news release said. The incident happened in a part of Austin in Williamson County. Deputies discovered the body of a 34-year-old woman who had died at the scene, the release said.

It said that during a search of the house, deputies found and seized illegal substances including fentanyl, methamphetamine, LSD, Xanax and psilocybin mushrooms.

"The Williamson County Sheriff's Office is prioritizing this case and actively conducting an ongoing investigation to gather more information surrounding this incident," the release said.

The sheriff's office is also investigating an overdose death that happened Monday in a house in the 2000 block of Aster Lane in Round Rock, officials said.

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Deputies found the body of a 34-year-old man who had died at the scene, a news release said. It said deputies found suspected fentanyl, marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol and ketamine after searching the home. Anyone with information about the overdose deaths is asked to call the sheriff's tip line at 512-943-1170 or to email drug-humantraffickinginfo@wilco.org.

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Williamson County has had an estimated 27 overdose deaths since the beginning of the year, including 17 involving fentanyl, said Sgt. Heather Vargas. "This is just an approximation," she said. "There are also many pending toxicology reports. We are still urging the community not to buy any illicit drugs, including pills off the street. Fentanyl has made its way into every illicit drug bought off the streets."

Thirty-five people in Williamson County, including in the cities, died last year from fentanyl overdoses out of a total number of about 57 suspected overdoses, Vargas has said.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is sometimes prescribed legally for pain management, but it can be fatal when used illegally because even small amounts can kill a person.

Counterfeit pills being sold with illegal fentanyl in them are a major problem in Central Texas, authorities have said.

Vargas said officials also urge the community to get educated on fentanyl. Information about fentanyl can be found at txaf.org , is a nonprofit that has partnered with the sheriff's office.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Williamson County sheriff reports 2 overdose deaths this week, 17 fentanyl deaths this year